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Major-general George H. Thomas 



Of the Army of the United States 



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OF THE 

ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

LOYAL, COURAGEOUS, INCORRUPTIBLE. 

HONORS FROM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. 

FEBRUARY, 1898. 



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MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 
Born Southampton County, Virginia, July 31. 1816. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS was un- 
doubtedly one of the noblest figures in our Civil 
War. First, because — being a Virginian — he did 
not strike a blow at the mother who educated him, as so 
many did; second, because of his very wise and able con- 
duct as an officer ; and, lastly, because of his disinterested 
and noble conduct subsequently. I am, I suppose, the only 
person living seized of a certain fact illustrating this ; and I 
feel impelled to make it public. After one of his important 
victories, resulting in the protection of Cincinnati, several 
gentlemen of that city made up a purse of $12,000, I think, 
to be presented to him. This he steadily refused to receive, 
stating that his principles obliged him to refuse to receive any 
pecuniary reward for doing his duty as a public officer. The 
approbation of his fellow-citizens was honor enough for him. 



At the time I was reading Montesquieu's "Spirit of Laws." 
This great author writes : — 

" In a popular state one spring is necessary ; namely, 
virtue." (Book III., chap, iii.) 

" Virtue is a self-renunciation which is always arduous and 
painful. This virtue may be defined the love of the laws and 
of our country. As this love requires a constant preference of 
public to private interest, it is the source of all the particular 
virtues ; for they are nothing more than this very preference 
itself." (Book IV., chap, v.) 

" Virtue in a republic is a most simple thing. It is a love 
for the republic : it is a sensation, and not a consequence of re- 
quired knowledge, — a sensation that may be felt by the meanest 
as well as by the highest person in the State. When the com- 
mon people adopt good maxims, they adhere to them steadier 
than those we call gentlemen. It is very rare that corruption 
commences with the former. Nay, they frequently derive from 
their imperfect light a stronger attachment to the established 
laws and customs." (Book V., chap, iv.) 

" In a republic presents are odious, because virtue stands in 
no need of them. It is in conformity to republican ideas that 



Plato ordered those who received presents for doing their duty 
to be punished with death. 'They must not take presents,' 
said he, ' neither for good or for evil actions.' " (Book V., 
chap, xvii.) 

It seemed to me that General Thomas was illustrating these 
principles, and I sent copies of these words to him. I re- 
ceived an answer from him, thanking me, and approving of the 
ideas of the great French author. This letter I have unfortu- 
nately lost. There may be other officers that have done the 
same thing, but I do not know of it. What a reproof to the 
thousands of so-called veterans drawing the life-blood out of 
their country which they did nothing to defend, and hounding 
those who dare to protest against such conduct ! 



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% I AJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS graduated 
yv 1 from West Point in 1840, served through the Seminole and 
Mexican Wars and the Civil War, and remained in the 
army till his death. 

The portrait is from a photograph taken at Nashville in 1865, and 
now owned by William H. Lambert. We are permitted to present 
it here through the very great kindness of S. T. McClure Company 
and Paul Dana of New York. 

He died March 28, 1870, in San Francisco, Cal. ; was buried in 

" Oakwood," Troy, N.Y. The photograph of his monument was 

made by Mr. George B. Pattison of that city, and kindly presented to 

me for this purpose. The wreath was placed there by me. 

B. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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